Valve



Feb. 26, 1929.

T. A. STEINMETZ VALVE Filed July 16, 1927 7/2eaaor e A. Sfe inmefz 7 0. ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES THEODORE A. STEINMETZ, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

VALVE.

Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to a valve for wind instruments, particularly horns. The invention is not confined to the valve only, but resides also in the construction whereby cooperation of several such valves maybe obtained and whereby such valves may be applied to a horn or other musical instrument. The valve may also be used generally in the mechanic arts.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a fragment of a horn having three of my valves mounted thereon in cooperative relation,

Figure 9 is an end elevation in section taken along the line 22 of 1, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view t one of the valves.

Referring now to 2 and 3, 1 indicates an outer cylindrical casing and 2 an inner cylindrical casing closely fitting the outer one and rotatable therein The outer casing is preferably a drawn or spun piece oi? metal closed as to one end except for two openings therein, while the inner piece may be a cast ing. The inner cylinder has four openings in its front face and two in its rear, the two rear o ienings registerable with those ot the casing. Thus there are two passages 3 and 3 extending completely thru the cylinder when register is accomplished and one passage 4 which alters its direction in the cylinder and emerges trom the same face into which it entered.

From the central axis of the inner case a shaft emerges on both sides thereof, the portion emerging and the front tace being designated 5 and bearing a squared portion 5". that portion emerging from the rear being designated 6. A screw 7 and screw hole therefor is provided in the end of the shatt 5 to hold lever links 8, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in dotted lines. Such lever links are actuated by stems which terminate in keys 10 (see Fi 1) at the top of the horn. Such stems 9 are provided with retracting springs 11 in the usual manner so that after release of linger pressure on the keys, these resume their usual position. Full pressure on the keys will produce a quarter revolution of the inner casing the outer one remaining stationary. The effect of this will be in the construction shown in Fi 1 to change the position of the openings 41., throwing these out of register and throwing the openings and 3 into register wit-h the holes in the stationary casing and with the openings of the crooks 12. It will then be evident 1927. Serial No. 206,261.

that air blown into the horn will take a longer path, that is, through the crook 12 instead of being short circuited through the passage 4, thereby producing a different tone.

In Fig. 1, it will be seen that three valves are utilized and that three changes of path of the air current are possible. Each key 10 controls one valve so that the resonating column of air behind the valve in the crooks 12 may be joined or cut of]? from the main resonating columns extending to the mouthpiece and to the bell of the horn. It will be seen that when the valve stems are not depressed, that the passages 4 0t ea ch oil? the valve bodies communicate with each other to torm a curved continuous passage joining the tube to the mouthpiece and the tube to the bell. Three major changes in the timbre of the horn are therefore possible with the construction shown. lit is obvious, of course, that instead of a construction utilizing three valves there may be any suitable number of valves used, either more or less than three. It is also permissible to utilize 0t ier known species of valves in a horn or other instrument employ ing one or more of my valves.

Having dew iii-ed my invention, I claim 1. In a valve, a cylindrical body having therein three passages, two of which. straight and extend through the said body and the third of which bends inside the body and makes its exit from the same face at which it enters, a casing tor said body, one end oi which is closed except for two holes registerable with the straight passages, and one hole to receive a bearing shaft on the body, and means for revolving the body inside the casing.

2. In a valve, a cylindrical body having therein three passages, two of which are straight and extend completely through the said body and the third of which is curved inside the body and makes its exit from the same face ot the said body at which it entered, a bearing shatt at the central axis of the said body, a closely fitting casing for the said body, the said casing being open at one end and closed at the other except for two holes registrable with the straight passages through the body and a hole to receive the bearing shaft, and lever means to rotate the valve body in the casing.

3. In a valve, a cylindrical body having therein three passages, two of which are straight andextend completely through the said body and. the third of which is curved inside the body and makes its exit from. the same face of the said body at which it entered, a bearing shaft at the central axis of the said body, a closely tting casing .tor the said body, the said casing being open at one end and closed at the other except for two holes registrable with he straight p through the body and a hole to receive the bearing shaft, and lover means to rotate the valve body in the cash 3;, a squared portion on the bearing shaft adapted to cooperate with a square hole in one oi the levers whereby a connection between the lever and the valve body may be established.

at. In valve, a cylindrical bony having thcrei three pass ps, two of which are straight and eaten :onipletely through the said b-tnly and the third of which is curved inside the body and m exit from the came face oi. the said tercd, a bearing shaft 2; the said body, a closely r-"iu casing for the said body, the said cas icing open at one end and closed the other for two holes registrable with the stran it passages through the body and hole to receive the bearing shaft, and lever means to rotate the valve body in the casing, through an angle of 90.

5. In a valve, a c-ylii'iorical body having; therein three passages, two of which are straight and extend completely through th said body and the third of which curved inside the body and makes its exit from the same face oi the said body at which it entered, a bearing shaft at the central aXi s of the said body, a closely fitting casing :tor the said body, the said casing being open at one end and closed the other except for two holes registral do with the straight pass vgas through the body and a hole to receive the bearing shaft, and lover means to rotate the valve body in the casing through an angle of 90, and spring means cooperating with the lever means to return the said valve body to its original position after release of pressure on the said lever means.

6. In combination with a musical wind instrument a valve,a cylindrical body h aving therein three passages, two of whici are straight and attend through the said body and the third oi which bends inside the body and makes its exit from the same face at which it enters, a casing for said body, one end of which is closed except "for two holes register-able with the staight passages, and one hole to receive a bearing shaft on the body, and means for revolving the body in side the casing. I

7. Incoinbination with a musical wind instrument, in a valve, a cylindrical body having therein three passages, two of which are straight and extend completely through the said body and the third of which is curved *1 L -0 J! entral asis or inside the body and makes its exit from the same at the said body which it entered, a bea ing shaft at the central axis of the said body, a closely fitting casing for the said body, the said casing being open one end and closed at the other except for two holes registrable with the straight passages through the body and a hole to receive the bearing shar and lever means to rotate the valve body in the casing.

S. in c .mbination with a in strnuieut, in a valve, a cylindrical bi ly havtie ein three passages, two of which a;

' and extend completely through the u i i the third of which is curved me body and makes its exit from the r o shart, lever means to rotate the valve body in the casing, a squared portion the bearing shaft adapted to cooperate with square hole in one out the levers wherea connection. between the lever and the valve body be established.

9. in combination with a musical wind inin valve, a cylindrical body havrein three passages, two of which raight and extend completely through. id body and the third or Ndifill is curved 'rside the l)0( y and malres its tit from the arie face of the said body at which it end, a bearing shaft at the central axis of said body, a closely fitting sail body, the said casing open one nd and closed at the other except for two noles rcgistrable with the straight passages through the body and hole to receive the bearing shaft, and lover means to rotate the alvc body in the casing, through an angle of 90.

10. In combination with. a musical wind instrument, in a valve, a cylindrical body having therein three passages, two of which are straight and extend completely through the said body and the third or which is curved inside the body, and makes its exit from the same face of the said body at which it e tered, a bearing shaft at the central axis of the said body, a closely fitting Casing for the said body, the said casing being open at one end and closed at the other except for two holes registrable with the straight passages through the body and a hole to receive the bearing shatt, and lever means to rotate the valve body in the casing through an angle 0t 90, and spring means cooperating with the lever means to return the said valve body to its original position after release o:t pressure on the said lever, means,

11. In combination with a musical horn cal wind in lor the.

ereby a d the valve which square hole in one of the levers wh the said connection between the lever an 'elve, a cylindrical body bearing shaft adapted to cooperate with a passages, two

extend. throng'l having crooks, in a .huvng therein three er straw 1g crooks, in a valve, a cylindrical body es, two of which end completely through g casing for g being open at the other exeept tor olcs registrzihle with the straight pasewe gh an andrioal bodv 0 of which d extend completely through XlS of the said eel r s1 s n to the "1 dhod aft at the central axis or' and a hole to rec and lever means to rotate he casing. throu at which it entered,

open at one end and ner except for two holes reg-- 1ll'(l of which is curved 50 d at he third of which is curved and makes its exit from the inn ght pessa-ges throng a hole to receive the heerln s to rotate the valve sing through an angle of 90,

ly and makes its exit from the 1 1112 en .lly, a closely it-tin il the sold (resin close the loo the hearing shaft,

1 three passages. tw 11 -..nd t

it at the central a osely fittin c 2o ace of the said bodv at which it onhe said body JLL e hotly in t oi 90.

body

Yd be rough endv and two n .n cm'nbinzition with. a, musical horn i ereii the . ceoift n she n cl said casni losed at the ot 1e with the stral ieide the l having crooks, in 21 valve, :1 cylin i"""*le sages throngl the said h same the ve the I cl

es, two o con M te th bi iil casino being 0 i r sod at tee other essence. tw

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third 0 th t and extend conml-r int conilnnet g crooks, in a vet nivino' therein n (ink! were 1 comb are straign body in the ensing.

turn the said valve body to its 1t1on after release of pressure on the SELlCl lever means.

atin with the lever a hole to receive the bearing lever means to rotate the valve 7 U3 casing, 21 squared portion on the THEODORE A. STEINMETZ.

*1 and ly in the bod 40 5 bet 

